Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-03-10
He.Won't Return to England Because Jumbo's
Carcass is Here.
New York Times

Carcass is Here.
| New York Times
| Animal trainers are queer lot as
rule, and show managers have to put up
with many vagaries from them. They
form strong attachments for their big
and sometimes ungainly pets, attach
ments one would hardly expect to exist
between human being and a wild beast.
| A case in point recently came under
the notice of Mr.. James l.. Hutchinson
of the Barnum show, which serves well
| to illustrate what seems TO be one of the
chief traits in animals character.
| When the Barnum people bought Jumbo
in England they brought over to this
country with him Matthew Scott who for
some twenty years had been the trainer
and keeper of the huge, homely, but
good-natnred beast. Scott was jun
bo's guar dian and constant companion
during that pachydermas brief but bril-
liant career in this country. When jun DO
met his death as the result of too much
monkeying with a railroad train up in
| Canada, Scott was ''all broke up,' to use
the vernacular. He was restless, dis
satisfied, pretty we'll broken-up individ-
ual while the skin of his elephantine bed
fellow was being stuffed and his skeleton
cleaned and mounted for exhibition pur-
poses. When the remains of Jumbo were
added to the Barnum aggregation Scott
was put on exhibition with them. He
seemed to have recovered some of his
happiness then, and never tired of tell
ing of the peaceful disposition, the kind
ly nature, and the altogether cOmmenda+
bic habits of his late chum.
When the Barnum show closed its sea-
son last October Mr.. Hutchinson told
Scott that he would have no further use
for him, aud advised him to go back to
England and accept the position at the
London geological garden that was wait
ing for him, Scott said he would do so.
On Oct. % in Lynchburgh, Va, Mr..
Hutchinson paid Scott nearly $4,000
which had accumulated in his hands as
the old trainers wages. Scott
also received money to pay his
passage back to Europe, in accordance
with his agreement with the Barnum
people, He babe everyone goodbye, left
the show, and started for this city IN time
to take the steamer he had selected for
Liverpool. That was last was seen Or
heard of him by the proprietors of the
Barnum show until last week.
Mr.. Hutchinson went up to the Bridge
port winter quarters then to see how
things were progressing for the removal
of the shows truck to this city. He was
astonished shortly after leaving this city
to meet Scott.
'sHalloa, Scott, what are you doing
here? Thought you were in England
with your friends.
scott stumbled in his words consider
ably and explained that he had made lots
of friends in this country, rather liked 1t
and thought he'd stay here for while
for rest as he hada good pile of money.
He appeared to be trife ashamed of
something, as if caught in disreputable
sort of proceeding. Mr.. Hutchinson left
him and went to the big barns and sheds
of the company. But he could not for
get Scott.
"Seen anything of Jumbo Scott around
here lately? he inquired casually of the
people in the Office. No, they hadn't.
He determined to pursue his inquiries
further, and solve the mystery of this
Man SCOTS being in Bridgeport So he
went down to the elephant house. Yes,
thew had seen Scott; seen him frequently;
almost daily ia fact. Mr.. Hutchinson
followed the clew quietly and successfully
and then it turned out that nearly every
day since the show had been in winter
quarters Scott had prowled about the
barn chatted with the elephant men, and
invariably wound up his call to the spot
where the stuffed Jumbo and his chained,
skeleton are stored. After a short, and
so far as is known, silent communica-
ii on with his dead friend. Scott would
leave the place satisfied and go to his
humble lodgings in Bridgeport If the
deceased Jumbo travels this season Scott
will want to, even if he isn't on the salary
list.